Ellicott Development buys Lutheran Church Home

Ellicott Development Co. acquired the vacant Lutheran Church Home of Buffalo on the East Side earlier this week for $450,000, but is still evaluating its plans for redeveloping the property.

Located at 217 and 227 East Delavan Ave., the 25,220-square-foot former assisted-living facility for the Niagara Lutheran Community was built in 1906, with renovations and additions in 1950 and again in 1995. The three-story brick structure, actually two buildings sitting on 2.24 acres, is part of the Hamlin Park Historic District, making it eligible for historic tax credits for renovations.

The complex features 65 resident rooms, a full commercial kitchen remodeled in the 1990s, a 75-seat dining area, a social hall, a library, a chapel, three elevators, a detached two-level masonry garage, and parking for more than 35 vehicles, according to a brochure from Hunt Commercial Real Estate broker Jane Munro Theriault, who handled the sale. It has a monitored security system with cameras and motion detectors. The property was last assessed at $1.26 million.

“We are exploring a number of different options for the property,” said William Paladino, president and CEO of Ellicott Development Co. “The property has a lot of good infrastructure and we like its proximity to Canisius College and Medaille College.”